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Saturday, 25 August 2012

Over the
years I have worked and socialized with what must be literally
thousands of people.

The vast
majority are what we would all label as normal.

Whatever
normal actually is.

They have
their good days and their bad days.

We all
do.

We all
deal with these highs and lows in life in different ways, but in
general we all muddle through.

Just get
from one day to the next as best we can.

Thankfully,
as I have said, this has been my experience of the majority.

Sadly
there are a minority of people who struggle at times, and because
they are struggling they make the lives of those around them
difficult.

Sometimes
we can deal with it as long as there's a time frame to it.

It's
easier to let their unhappiness wash over you when there's that light
at the end of the tunnel.

Other
times there's no light ahead and their bad days are relentless.

It's a horrible existence for them.

On paper,
and in conversation, it is easy to say that these individuals need
some help and we should exercise some empathy and patience.

It's true. We should.

That of
course is easier said than done though.

Right now
I know someone who is receiving multiple telephone calls on a
daily basis from an individual who is very obviously unwell.

While
this woman that I know has never given me the impression that she
lacks empathy, it is apparent that she is creeping ever closer to the
end of her tether with the situation.

I don't
mean that she is going over the edge herself.

Just that
the strain is never ending and she must just wish for it to stop.

There's
been unsubstantiated allegations made about her, her business and more.

The
police have been called and the matter is now in their hands as far
as I can tell.

I
sincerely doubt that the woman who is being harassed wished to
involve the police, but her options were limited so what could she
really do?

Another
friend is on the receiving end of some unwanted attention from a man
she knows.

No matter
how often she has clearly stated that a relationship is not what she
wants, and no matter how often others have told this man the same on
her behalf, it isn't managing to sink in.

It's
entirely possible that the police will have to be involved in this if
it continues as it seems likely to.

Now once
again we could rationalize this persons behaviour, and even have a
degree of sympathy for him, but we aren't the ones on the receiving
end of his inappropriate displays of affection, or threats of self harm if he
doesn't get the attention he considers he deserves.

If we
were, then can we honestly claim our cups would be runneth over with
sympathy for him?

Then
there's the people who can never maintain relationships with people.

I've seen
two examples of that lately.

One was
from a person who is a musician.

They have
had many many projects on the go, and every single one ends
acrimoniously with threats being issued.

Every
single band member that they have worked with are touted as the best
musician they have ever been professionally involved with.

Then a
few weeks later they are the back stabbing spawn of Satan.

Now when
it happens once then fine, when it happens twice it's less so fine.

When it
happens three times, four times, every time.

What
then?

After a
while who is the common thread?

Who is it
that really has the problem?

Then when
you accept that it is the individual, and not everyone that surrounds
them, you have to think about the truly awful things that have been
alleged about all these ex band members and how much stress these
broadsides have elicited.

It seems
obvious to me that the people who the finger of blame is being
pointed at are also victims in this case.

Of course we should expect that support should be provided, but who to?

It seems that the person who has the difficulty working with others needs support, but should those who have been on the receiving end of their threats and abuse be left unsupported?

Similarly
there's someone else I know who displays the same sort of issues.

It's
never ever their fault.

Everyone
is against them and Machiavellian plots surround them.

Of course
no one is actually out to get the person at all.

Most
people are mature enough to make it clear that while they may well
have an issue with certain actions and behaviour, that this is as far
as it goes.

Sort of a
hate the sin and not the sinner situation.

Yet from
my point of view this individual regularly fails to accept that there
may be some truth to the accusation or allegation of wrongdoing, and
they would rather lash out and claim that others are conspiring their
downfall than entertain that they themselves could be the problem.

Unfortunately
there are some who I would say misguidedly support those who are
reluctant to accept responsibility for the actions they put in
motion, and these people then sort of allow the negativity that harms
everyone involved to continue.

They extend the misery and put a mutually beneficial solution outwith the reach of everyone whose lives are impacted by what is going on.

It's all
very dramatic isn't it?

Most of
us are aware that very few people have the time or inclination to
plot another persons downfall.

This is
real life and not a Hollywood script.

No one should be supporting anyone in believing that they are being plotted against.

So while
I would strongly advocate that anyone who has some issues should be
supported.

I would
add that maybe we should try hard not to pander to their issues and
therefore inflame situations.

We should
also at the same time reserves some empathy for the people who are
often being worn down by the unwanted attention from those who are
clearly having a difficult time dealing with their own lives.

After all they could be described as the collateral damage of an internal conflict inside the head of another.

This was
supposed to be a review of the Distorted Truth gig in Pivo Pivo, but
my evening didn't really go as planned.

So
instead if I was to keep a diary then I suppose this is what I would
have filled it with.

Some days
you have to look at the flow of humanity and question where we are
going.

Underneath
Central Stations Guinness record breaking glass ceiling you could be
forgiven for thinking that in the vast expanse of space it would
hold a microcosm of the whole world.

All of
the weird and wonderful could press shoulders with the everyday and
the mundane.

Yet when
I arrive all I can see is predominately three different groups of
people.

There's
the nine to fivers looking worn down and killing time till they can
get home and shut the world out.

Wage
slaves of which I am one.

Then
there's the people who have fallen through the cracks of society and
are looking to find something to get them through the night into the
next day.

It could
be fifty pence for a cup of tea, or a couple of pounds that they can
put towards whatever their chosen oblivion provider is.

Hanging
about, and adding sizeably to the throng, are the tribal kids.

Look at
us! We are all so different in our uniformity.

There's
nothing wrong with their naivety.

They're
just filling time between the innocence of youth and the reality of
adulthood.

Is this
really it though?

Between
birth and death is this really all we can be?

Of all
the sparks of electricity firing inside our heads and carrying ideas
and dreams from one place to another is this the sum of our efforts?

Thank
fuck FOPP was still open and its array of what is the end product of
creativity could distract me for a while and lift me from the edge of
the pit of despair that I sometimes hover over.

The box
set of War Child seven inch singles I picked up was the perfect dark
cloud buster.

Fifteen
singles featuring artists covering a classic with the original
version being on the b-side.

Now that
what I call a result.

Kelly set
her sights on the limited edition metal box set of AC/DCs Black Ice
album and quickly secured one.

A nice
purchase that if I was flush with cash I would have grabbed myself.

I'm sure
that some would ask why a man of my age would want a CD that comes in
a metal tin with some stickers, a plectrum and a large flag?

I would
ask why a man of my age wouldn't want one?

Wetherspoons
provided a cheap meal for us in the gap between the shops closing and
the gig starting.

It really
is the poor man's version of dining out.

My
southern fried chicken wrap with chips is as exotic as my finances
stretch it seems.

The gig
wasn't really a normal gig at all and instead was doubling up as a
surprise twenty first birthday party for Glasgow punk Lisa Vermin.

I'd like
to say I know her, but I have only ever spoken to her maybe twice in
passing.

Lovely
girl though, and it was heart warming to see that people care enough
for someone to make the effort to arrange a whole gig just for them.

No one
does that unless the person is rather special.

Lovely
really, and a good example of what the punk scene should be, but
often isn't.

Met a
young guy at the gig.

He had
the punk uniform of tartan bondage trousers, sleeveless band shirt et
al, but I was pleasantly surprised when we started chatting and he
revealed himself to be open minded in general about music and life
itself.

It was
refreshing to meet someone of such tender years who fundamentally got
what punk is.

He could
learn some old dogs some new tricks.

He works
down south on yachts because it's the job he wants and feels
passionate about.

I suspect
no one will steam roller him into fitting a tidy box to suit their
expectation.

Buzzbomb
were as good as I expected them to be.

Between
the three guys in the band they can vocally cover anything you want.
From melodic pop punk in the style of The Ramones to some bone
crunching rock.

It's all
down with a great deal of energy and the covers of Sonic Reducer and
Halloween were given a bit of a slap and delivered at 100mph.

My
enjoyment of them was impacted on a bit by a growling stomach pain
that was becoming increasingly distracting as they played.

When they
finished I made a bee line for the toilets and lets just say that is
anyone has the number for the Chernobyl clean up crew then can they
pass it on to Pivo Pivo.

It's
entirely possible that my anus looks like a gunshot wound.

I could
have left the gig at this juncture, but big Kyle Thunder of Filthy
Little Secret and The Bucky Rage had told me I really need to see
Alkotron so many times that I felt obligated to hang about.

I'm glad
I did.

Starting
off with an instrumental in the vein of the Shadows, albeit a Shadows
without Cliff and featuring a thumping bass line.

After
that it was a case of all bets were off.

Sometimes
it sounded like JJ Burnell on bass and David Gilmour on guitar.

On a
couple of songs I was taken back to the leafy glades of Glastonbury
where out of my face on Gorbachovs I'd dance to extended dub reggae
jams bathed in strobe lights.

Mental
stuff.

There's
really no point in trying to pigeon hole the band as that's not what
they are about.

Their
whole set just screams an appreciation of music.

It's an
aural magical mystery tour of excellence.

Highly
recommended to the open minded.

Then my
guts started to issue a four minute warning again and after another
major evacuation I decided that leaving was a better idea that
ruining Lisa's party.

I have no
doubt that Splinter and Distorted Truth would have continued the
evening in fine style.

Friday, 24 August 2012

After some messages flew back and forth I am now pleased to confirm that the one and only Kirk Brandon will be doing a special little acoustic set for us all in Glasgow.

This is the second bite at the cherry for me as I had previously booked him to play in my home town of Kilmarnock, but unfortunately that was when Kirk fell unwell and the tour was cancelled.

It was a massive blow at the time as Spear of Destiny were about to go out on the road in support of their album, and his health issues, while unavoidable, served to throw a spoke into the wheels of progress for the band.

Months, if not years of hard work in writing and recording an album that was universally lauded sort of went tits up.

I sometimes think that Kirks career could be described as one step forward and two steps back, always.
Undeservedly it often seems that just as everything is about to come together Lady Luck decides to bestow a wink on the less talented and leave Kirk displaying the fighting spirit that his fans, who I count myself as one, admire.

So here he is again, and I am sure that like me, you will want to welcome him with open arms.

As an aside I am looking for a little help here.
When Kirk was booked to play in Kilmarnock a young woman bought three tickets.
I think she lived in Ayr.
She was the only one who wasn't refunded and I have never been able to track her down.
She was very excited about Kirk playing.
I'm pretty sure that she nurses the wounds of thinking she was ripped off.
It would be great if she stepped forward, or someone gave her a nudge as she, and her two friends, will be guest listed for this one in may of compensation.

Thursday, 23 August 2012

For one
reason (finances) or another (finances) I've never made the
pilgrimage to the big smoke to see Social Distortion.

Their
star and mine have never aligned in the heavens, and very often I
thought that they would be one of those bands on my 'I really gotta
see them' list that I wouldn't.

So when
they announced their very first date in Scotland I was all over it.

Tickets
were secured and the waiting game was played.

In the
run up to it friends from all over the UK caught them playing at the
Rebellion festival and the universal opinion was that their
performance was drab, slow and misguided.

I'll
admit that it was the last thing I wanted to hear.

I'd
waited a very long time to see these guys, and a substandard show
wasn't something that I was wanting to contemplate.

On the
day itself there was a bit of a buzz, but not a lot as the ghost of
the Rebellion performance seemed to loom large and cast a depressive
dark shadow over everything.

Thankfully
it didn't manage to get past the doors of the Garage though, and
inside the venue the excitement was palpable.

Chris
Devotion and The Expectations were up first and ran through much of
the many highlights of there debut album 'Amalgamation and Capital'
to great effect.

To call
them a support band does them a real disservice.

Instead
they're a headliner looking for a larger stage and an audience.

I suspect
that they wont be waiting long.

They
certainly have the songs, musical ability and attitude to turn
peoples heads.

In parts
they're echoing the Phil Spector girl band sound as filtered through
the Ramones, but with better backing vocals than 'Da Brudders', and
at others they're kicking the shit of of a Woody Guthrie cover.

Their
whole set is on fire from start to finish.

For an
opening act they set the bar very high and I could easily imagine
Dave Hause standing in the wings asking himself how he could follow
such a performance.

Not that
Dave Hause would really have been fazed as he's been treading the
boards for a while now. He knows the score and has paid his dues over
and over.

It takes
balls to stand on a large stage alone with only an acoustic between
you and an audience.

There's
no band mates to lean on, and no one to carry you.

It's raw
and exposed, but Dave has it nailed down.

Like a
few others who are rooted in a punk background, but have moved into
acoustic blue collar rock, or country, he has an impassioned approach
to his material.

It's
people like him who are playing what could be described as 'the real
deal'.

There's
no rock by numbers aspect to it and no attempt to dilute the punk
angle on the music.

While
some are happy to push punk into a uniformed ghetto it's Dave Hause,
Cory Branan and the like who are displaying the real punk ethos of
doing what they want and disallowing anyone to limit how they express
themselves.

It works
to great effect as well.

Everything
sounds alive. The veins in his neck are popping and he pushes the
lyrics hard.

The
audience lap it up.

Especially
when he sings his Loved Ones track 'Jane' with the audience screaming
back 'alright, alright'.

It's one
of those defining moments when everything clicks into place and
everything does actually feel 'alright' with the world.

I was in
two minds about going to see the Gaslight Anthem later on in the
year, but Dave might have swayed me as I'm told he's on the bill to.

Then
there was the moment that everyone had been waiting for.

From
where I'm standing I can see Mike Ness shaking his arms out like a
boxer at the side of the stage, then he's ducking and diving a bit,
shadow boxing and throwing punches.

He's was
looking good.

Like he
had stepped from the set of Angels With Dirty Faces.

As The
Beastie Boys regale us with No Sleep til Brooklyn Social Distortion
walk onto the stage and it's all business.

I'd
previously said that if they didn't play 'I Was Wrong' I would be
immensely displeased, but it's the first song of the set and
immediately every nagging doubt that the band would fail to deliver
vanished in seconds.

They were
on fire, and so was the Glasgow crowd.

It not
long into the set before you could see Mike Ness visibly relax.

Maybe
he'd read some of the negative press about Blackpool and was just a
little concerned about another gig that was out of the bands comfort
zone that is London.

He
needn't have been.

By
bringing his A game its a legendary comeback for the band.

While
some of the Rebellion faithful claimed they had seen a band on the
ropes here was one shaking the lead from their tired legs and going
for the knock-out to silence their critics.

The may
as well opened by bellowing that tonight no prisoners will be taken.

The
effort they put into the show is returned in kind, and all around me
voices are raised as they sing along, and it looks like a mile wide
smile is tattooed on the face of virtually everyone in attendance.

It's a
best of set with a few songs thrown in from the latest album and it's
lapped up greedily.

There's
very little showbiz flash.

It's
really just nose to the grindstone rock and roll. Dirt under the
fingernails stuff.

Halfway
through the night Mike Ness is drenched in sweat and you can see it
dripping from his elbows and splashing onto the stage.

The
energy he was exerting could have powered a small town.

It's to
the bands credit that they not only made it to the end of the night
without collapsing, but returned to deliver the coupe de grace that
was Folsom Prison Blues and Ring OF Fire.

In my
head I have an image of them all sitting backstage in the aftermath
of the show and Mike asking someone to get in contact with their
manager and ask why the fuck no one told him about his Scottish fans.

I would
be surprised if the miss us out on any subsequent European tours.

It's the
usual mish mash of poor writing, in jokes and rubbish that mainstream
magazines wouldn't touch with a barge pole, but it does pretty well.

Quite a
few people all over the world seem to like it.

Anyway. I
was at your Social Distortion gig in the Garage last night.

An
excellent show.

Both
supports (Chris Devotion and the Expectations/Dave Hause) were as
good as any headlining act that has graced that stage in my opinion.

The sound
and lighting were spot on in my humble opinion to, the bar staff of
the venue were very friendly and all things considered you could
argue that this was the sort of gig that could be highlighted to
other promoters as how a show should be put on.

So well
deserved pats on the back all round.

However
there was one very little thing that poured a bit of rain on what was
in the main an enjoyable night.

It might
be something that you are unaware of.

The
problem was that on arriving the security took some flyers off me
that I was going to distribute outside after the show.

I was
told by the security that I couldn't advertise gigs that weren't DF
concert ones.

Now this
is where it gets into the realms of the Little Britain sketch where
David Walliams utters the line 'computer says no'.

I was
initially told that I couldn't flyer for a gig that wasn't run by DF
Concerts.

I
explained that the flyers were for a blog and not another gig, but
that seemed to confuse the guy so he passed the buck to uber-security
man who parroted the same line about not promoting other gigs.

I
explained again that it wasn't for a gig and he had a look at the
actual flyer.

You know
the sort.

The kind
that don't mention a venue, a band, a date or anything at all about
another event.

Just the
sort that mention a blog and provide a link for people to find it.

I also
mentioned that I was here to see the bands and I would be handing the
flyers out after the gig. All 21 of them.

Anyway.

Once
again he said 'computer says no'.

Well he
didn't.

It was
really 'you can't advertise gigs that aren't run by DF'.

So I sort
of walked him through what a blog was and he screwed his eyes up and
it sounded like some gears were about to go into motion, but sadly
they didn't and he firmly mentioned that line again.

Although
this time he did say that they could keep them for me and I would get
them back on leaving.

I said
that was fine, but to clarify the situation asked if what he was
meaning was that I wasn't going to be allowed to promote a blog that
would feature a review of a DF concert and therefore promote a DF
Concerts event.

Do you
want to guess what he said in reply?

You know.

I don't
really have to tell you do I?

Now don't
get me wrong. I don't think for one second that such stringent
instructions have come directly from on high to the lowly door man.

What I
think is that this was an individual who couldn't make a judgement
call on the situation. Someone who likes to know what the rules are
and stick to them regardless.

If a fire
broke out in the Garage at 9pm and he had been instructed not to
leave his post until midnight then I suspect someone would be sifting
through his charred remains this morning.

Rules are
rules.

So is
there any chance you could maybe make that judgement call on behalf
of those who find it difficult and possibly pass on that flyers for
blogs and such can slip through the net?

It wont
have a negative impact on your business.

In fact
anyone reviewing music is oiling the wheels of the machine.

I look
forward to your response.

Mainy.

PS. As
mentioned I loved the actual gig and a flowery praise laden review of
the show will be up soon.

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

In just little over a week I have the pleasure to be putting on Hurray
For The Riff Raff on what is the first night of their headlining UK
tour.

I don't
think I can really convey how excited I am about this.

Whenever
anyone uses the word promoter to describe me I cringe.

I'm not a
business man.

The
simple truth is that I'm a music fan who sometimes puts on a gig or
to.

So the
excitement I feel has nothing to do with any money - it's a non
profit making gig with the money after my outlay going to cover the
cost of Hurray for the Riff Raff, and the rest being split between
the supports – and everything to do with my appreciation of the
talents of the band.

Since I
first heard them there's not a day goes by that I don't listen to
them.

Sometimes
it is the whole of one of their albums, other days it is just a song
here and there as I share them out online as I promote the show.

Whenever
I do listen to them I actually feel a bit of a thrill.

There's
something primitively enchanting about them.

They just
sound.....well real I suppose.

Lacking
in the trappings of showbiz.

Part of
the attraction is also that on studio recordings it is so very
obvious that they are primarily a live band, and I'm literally
counting down the days until they arrive.

I just
now that on a stage in front of an audience they will push things onto the
next level.

Friends have commented about the link with Alabama Shakes and their success (They share a producer), likewise the media attention that the band are now getting (mentions in The Sun, Sunday Times, Mojo and Uncut) as if this has anything to do with why I am looking forward to the gig.

In some peoples eyes it seems like a big deal, and it is, but the main thing for me is that I'm involved in putting on a band that I truly admire.

The icing on the cake is that all the supports, Little Fire, The Dirt and Matt Scott are all friends.

In my head the night is going to be like a big warm family party.

So far
sales of tickets have went very well, and without exaggerating to
generate more sales it does look like it will sell out.

I
sincerely hope it does.

The band
deserve nothing less than a honestly rousing support to start their
tour off.

Now
listen to this with an open mind and forget what is in or out of
fashion. Just listen.

While
some are getting their panties in a bit of a twist about the Tim
Armstrong produced Jimmy Cliff album I hope they reserve some of
their attention for Jaya the Cat and their 'The New International Sound
of Hedonism' release.

While I'm
aware that this may upset some, and others will scream sacrilege when
I say it, but from my point of view Jaya the Cat have effortlessly
pissed all over the efforts of Tim and Jimmy with this release.

Not since
I was introduced to The Slackers have I been so impressed with a band
who have been delving into the sounds of reggae, ska and punk.

This is a
skanking masterpiece, and I don't claim that lightly.

Doctors
all over the world should be prescribing it as a cure for depression.

Seriously.

Slip it
on and feel the muscles in your cheeks get a work out as a long lost
smile begins to reappear.

Hey.
What's that?

Yep. It's
your toe tapping to the beat.

Brilliant.

While it only rarely pushes aggressively it's got a vibe to it that I could see
Marley and Strummer kicking back and chilling to.

It's
entirely possible that Joe would say to Bob. 'That's the sound of our
footprints in the sand' and Bob would wisely nod in agreement as he
took a deep hit.

Very
often people say to me that there's no good music any more, and when
they do it's the name of a band like Jaya the Cat that I throw at
them as proof of how crass their statement is.

Do
yourself a favour and get aboard this train. You won't regret it and
that's a promise.

With an
album that has split opinions of fans and critics alike Neil Young is
back with Crazy Horse, and doing what he does best, and that's not
giving much of a fuck about the expectations people have of him.

On this
outing he's going for reinterpretations of songs by different
artists, but not in the style of say Cash on the American recordings,
or the slew of artists who followed on from the Man in Black down
that track.

Instead
Young has dismantled each song and rebuilt it with self indulgent
glee.

The main
question is does it work though?

Well
that's where opinions differ with some claiming it is the worst album
he has ever released, and other claiming it to be the best in a long
time.

What that
tells you is that you shouldn't listen to the opinion of anyone about
it, mine included, and just go at it blind and form your own views
separate from the cry of the crowd.

My own
take on it, and one that is probably rooted in coming from a rock and
punk background, is that it kicks arse.

At times
it sounds like a boisterous jam session in a garage.

Just a
bunch of old guys crackin' open some beers, plugging the amps in and
on the count of three going at it with a disrespectful sneer at the
neighbours who are disinclined to listen to them.

At other
points, for example on Gallows Pole, it sounds like one of them has
pushed for them all to get a bit more serious in how they have their
fun.

I suspect that even those who are desperately clinging onto a negative view must have a hint of a wry smile on their lips when they listen to 'Get a Job'.

I mean how couldn't you?

Over all,
and given some time, I doubt anyone will really be looking to tag it
with a 'worst album in a long time' badge, and instead will find a
place in their heart for it.

Sugary
sweet pop punk that would give you cavities if you didn't rinse after
use with something with a bit more of a bite.

They trod
a tightrope above a split crowd of punk fans on one side and
prepubescent teenyboppers on the other.

Personally
I never had a problem with this, but now here we are on the cusp of
their first pledge funded release hitting the streets, and my preview
download shows them as a band who have fallen off the wire and landed
on the side of the crowd who live under the shadow of parental
guidance, and will discuss the merits of what colour of retainer to
wear that will go with their mall bought converse.

All I can
hear is Avril Lavigne backed by McFly with Miley Cyrus doing some
backing vocals.

Thankfully
I got this through before I bought a ticket to see them.

If I had
turned up at the gig I suspect that my motives for hanging about in a
crowd of under-age girls would be questioned.

If the
gig is an over eighteens show then I have no idea who will attend.

I suppose
the album is what it is.

I
wouldn't break a leg jumping to change the channel if the Dollyrots
appeared on screen, but equally I wouldn't feel any urge to remember
who they are either.

Monday, 20 August 2012

Once
again I've been reading a post on facebook about how musicians are
being ripped off by dodgy promoters and rarely financially benefit
from providing entertainment to others.

It often
seems that everyone profits but them.

I broadly
agree with the sentiments and support the efforts of those who wish
to highlight anything that will improve the situation.

Yet I
often feel that there are many ethical promoters out there who are
being tarred with the same brush when it comes to this argument.

So
instead of dwelling on the negative how about we offer a solution.

In the
comments section please feel free to post the city/area where you are
from, and then the promoters and venues who you would recommend.

Lets make
a word of mouth recommendation list that can be spread about to help
bands, solo artists, the good promoters and excellent venues alike.

Also
there is no need to have a dig at the crap promoters and venues as by
not mentioning them they are starved of publicity and with every act
that is steered towards more ethical promoters and venues we will
strengthen their foothold in the music business and belittle the
chances of the less than ethical to prosper.

Sunday, 19 August 2012

Well
Rebellion, the much loved and equally loathed punk festival is over,
and while the blood is still running hot I would think some of my
Scottish brethren who were at it will be looking for something to
keep the party going.

Meanwhile
others who missed it will be wanting to start their own punk party,
and there's a couple of good options coming up this week that they
should be aware of.

First is
Social Distortion supported by Chris Devotion and the Expectations
playing in the ABC on Wednesday night.(22nd)

The only
chance of a ticket for this is from the touts on the night or a
private sale as it's been sold out for a while now.

It's a
gig that I'll definitely be trying to be front and centre for.

However
if anyone seen them at Rebellion and can't justify splashing the cash
to see them again so soon, or if SD aint your thing then this Friday
(24th) Phoenix Promotions are at Pivo Pivo in Glasgow with
the crackin' line up of Distorted Truth, Splinter, Buzzbomb and
Alkotron & Haggis.

It's a
mere fiver on the door and starts at 7pm.

Last time
Distorted Truth were in town a mates band was having their album
launch and I tossed a coin to decide where I would go and they lost
lost out on the pleasure of my company.

So I'm
looking forward to this chance to take a second bite at them.

Another
mate has fried my brain by repeatedly telling me how good Alkotron
are so this is going to be my opportunity to either agree or disagree
with him instead of just telling him he talks shit without having any
real evidence to back that up.

It's also
going to be my first chance to see Buzzbomb since they released their
latest album.

Friday, 17 August 2012

I've got a
night shift ahead of me and I'm getting past the age of staying awake
pre and post working hours.

Yet here I
am listening to the new Dollyrots album and jumping back and forth
between internet news pages and checking on what has been happening
in Russia with Pussy Riot and the UK with Assange.

Both cases
have parallels.

While many
with a vested interest would claim that to be rubbish, and then ask
what some women protesting in a church has to do with the extradition
of an alleged sex offender, the reality is that they are pushing a
smoke and mirrors agenda.

What they
have in common is that both Pussy Riot and Assange have, in the eyes
of governments, thrown down a gauntlet in support of freedom of
speech and freedom of information, and in return the governments are
looking to silence them, while also making an example of these
individual in an attempt to frighten us all.

Instead
what I think may happen is that both Pussy Riot and Assange will be
perceived as martyrs to a just cause.

Most of us
can see exactly what is happening here, and we feel very
uncomfortable about the move towards global totalitarianism.

What is
needed is for more people to become increasingly uncomfortable and
add their voices to ours in an attempt to to slow down, or derail,
where we are going.

Who could
really argue that both governments and business are looking to shaft
us all at every turn.

In decades
past they maintained an illusion that this wasn't the case by paying
lip service to things like human rights and the employment laws.

Both are
things that they are increasingly becoming rather open about
ignoring.

Look at the
evidence of their arrogance.

Michael
Gove sold off school playing fields even when his advisor looked into
it and said it wasn't the right move to make.

No one
seems to want a privatized police force, but it looks like we are
getting it even if it is delivered drip by drip.

When people
advocated for NHS reforms were they asking for the nurses and doctors
contracts to be ripped up and if they didn't sign the new ones then
they could leave?

I very much
doubt it.

Anybody
want to add more?

So very
much is going against the will of the people that I sometimes find it
difficult to understand why there hasn't been major civil unrest yet.

The Pussy
Riot and Assange cases brutally illustrate very plainly that there is
a global issue in regards to those in power listening and acting on
the wishes of the people.

They don't
care now.

Who will
put up an opposing argument?

They will
wage war without public support, lie and cheat on behalf of their
friends in business and more.

That is the
unvarnished truth.

It's
entirely possible that the faces of Pussy Riot and Assange will be on
the placards and flags of the revolution.

It's just a
waiting game now.

While the
governments are wanting to extinguish the flames of rebellion it
feels like instead they are fanning the spark that could set alight
the world.

Lets
see if we can class you as normal while attempting to glean how
religious you are and how educated some of your family are.

Ask
your parents for a photograph of yourself to use in a poster display.
( Preferably one of yourself alone. but if that is not possible then
a good one of yourself with others.)

This
is for a harmless bit of fun, although we aren't saying that your
image and those in the photograph with you wont used to identify you
when skynet takes over. (joke)

It's
all a bit STASI isn't it?

Or
am I being paranoid?

I
mean it's not like they are fingerprinting the kids.

Oh
wait a minute. They did do that

A
few years ago they took the fingerprints of all the kids in the my
daughters class and then sealed the page off with some sort of
cellophane as part of a project on crime.

I
asked for a meeting and queried it.

I
didn't really get an answer that filled me with much confidence as to
why the prints were sealed, so I asked for the page of fingerprints
to be removed.

They
did this and I took possession of the page, but a short while later
they managed to get her fingerprints when her mother - who she
resided with at the time - gave permission as they were going to be
used in the high tech school cafeteria where after swiping your
fingerprint the cost of the lunch would be debited from an account.

Now
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is uncomfortable with the
information that is gleaned about us all from multiple sources on a
daily basis.

It
really is relentless.

As
I said though, I'm not paranoid about it.

I
share details daily, but I do want to reserve the right to share what
I wish with who I wish.

We
are told often enough that we should be very careful with who we give
our information to as the details we provide could be exploited.

I
fully endorse that sort of common sense advice.

It's
just that unlike others I extend it to include authority figures to.

I
like my privacy. I like to maintain a degree of control of the
information that is out there about me and I think that's normal for
most of us.

Anyway.
As I will be assisting with homework tonight the answers are going to
be rather limited.

It's
going to be No, Seven, Both my parents and Usually with a party, in
that order.

The
photograph will be one that's at least eight years old, blurry and
taken from a strange angle.

Lets
see what they can get from that.

If
there's a request to expand on the information provided I'll mention
it on here.

It's
unchallenging, repetitive and has only one purpose in life, and
that's to act as a cash magnet.

There's
very little heart or soul in the shiny bling heavy MTV targeted hip
hop that is promoted globally.

It's a
stereotype that feels like it has left its expiry date far behind.

A hollow
fast food representation of something that should have some meat to
it, but doesn't.

The other
is the sound of the underground, and it's there that the beats pump
fast and passionately.

Especially
here in Scotland where acts like Hektor Bizerk and The Girobabies are
ripping up the rule book and casting it in the air like confetti.

In this
ever shifting bastard offspring of a loose scene the only thing that
you can expect is the unexpected, and strangely enough the latest act
to throw his hat in the ring defines this unexpected aspect, as
instead of a skinny pissed off wigger from a council estate spitting
out rhymes Shifty Presidents hails from Chicago, and prior to
relocating to Glasgow has been around the block a bit.

While
presently he's more Eminem and Jay Z than the punk upstarts with a
fistful of repetitive beat that we are used to, there's undoubtedly
some influences from his travels creeping into what he is rapping
about, and it's clear from listening to his rhymes that what we have
is an artists who is maturing and using his experiences to move
beyond simple emulation of his heroes and is edging ever closer to a
sound of his own.

This
stranger in a strange land soaking up partially foreign influences
could be exactly the thing that Shifty needs to push some space
between himself and the pool of rappers he has left behind in
Chicago, and vice versa it adds a certain flavour to what he does
that Scots audiences will only have an experience of from watching
the dreaded MTV.

If he can
tread that line between where he came from and where he's at, and
then forge something from both then there's really no telling where
he will end up.

While
some may be intent on repeating history this is a young man who has
his eye on the prize and is keen to write his own story.

You've
got to give him kudos for that.

It's not
all praise though.

Nothing
is ever perfect, and what I am hearing is an artist on a journey. and
some of the destinations he is referencing could be left in his rear
view mirror.

The
bitches and other stereotypical hip hop phrases and terms that are liberally sprinkled sound
dated and should be left in the mouths of the less intelligent
rappers out there.

Which he
isn't one of.

It just
feels counterproductive to pay lip service to something that he could
easily replace with a more visceral turn of phrase.

However
while that is a criticism it's still clear to see that Shifty
Presidents is moving away from that and reaching for a less
ghettoised sound, and it's this forward momentum that gives me hope
that we will be hearing plenty of good things about him once he has
soaked up some more experiences and used them to turbo charge his
songs.

Sunday, 12 August 2012

Based on
watching Slovenian folk duo Katarina Juvancic and Dejan Lapanja
playing a live set I entertained quite a few misconceived ideas of
how their debut album would sound.

In my
head it already existed as soft strains of acoustic guitar overlaid
with vocals, and very little else.

I fully
expected some sparse beauty, but instead what I got was an album
heavy in accomplished musicianship that effortlessly jumps from gypsy
folk to riffing rock.

An album
with a real bite to it that has pleasantly, and playfully, slapped
the stereotypical expectations that I had out of my head.

On a
track like Mene Nema the listener is very easily transported to a New
York loft where the song wouldn't have sounded out of place if it had
been an artistic statement dreamt up by Lou Reed and Andy Warhol as
part of a Velvet Underground session.

Elsewhere
there's the flavour of Leonard Cohen in how the phrasing and music
co-exists together that is rather evocative.

Then
later again, just as you may think that you are beginning to get to
grips with what is going on, Katarina playfully wraps herself around
a bluesy track like 'Balada o rozki in vrtnen palcku' that conjures
up an image of Bjork jamming with the Doors, but only after it has
schizophrenically went through some apparent personality issues as a
song.

Make no
mistake. This is a real musical journey that takes you around the
globe as it cherry picks what it wants from every country and era
that it chooses to.

It's all
rather astounding.

Throughout
the very wide breadth of music that has been approached it sounds
like the duo have stolen all the instruments that the Slovenian
National Orchestra had, and in an act of rebellious mischief used
every damn one.

And used
them well.

I could
make quite a credible argument that this is a punk folk album due to
how it has a foundation in folk story telling that has been built on
with the attitude of partially rewriting the rule book on how a
traditional style should be approached.

However,
while I could wax lyrical about how much enjoyment that 'Selivke' has
given me, it would be remiss of me not to draw attention to there not
being one singular phrase throughout it that is sung in English.

While
this may be something that will make an English speaking music fan
think twice about purchasing it, I would advocate throwing caution to
the wind as my lack of understanding - of what I am told is stories
about women – has not been a barrier to the appreciation that I
have for the album.

Friday, 3 August 2012

I don't
think many people would disagree that with every solo gig that Cal
Murray tucks under his belt that he just gets better and better.

He's
certainly blossoming as a solo artist.

It's not
that the material he is playing has gotten stronger as it was
topically powerful from day one. Instead it seems to be that he is
just becoming increasingly comfortable playing front and centre on
his own, and that confidence allows his set to flow far more evenly
resulting in a firmer connection with an audience.

Previously
pretty much everything on the technical side has been in place, a
good voice, solid songs and the ability to play them well, but along
with that a certain amount of personal charisma needs to be promoted
as well, and that has been increasingly revealing itself to the
betterment of the set.

For the
style of music that he is playing I could argue strongly that he's a
technically better singer than Billy Bragg, and far more honestly
belligerent in promoting what he believes in than Frank Turner.

From the
amount of people who made the effort to arrive early, or disengage
themselves from the bar area to take his set in, it looks like others
are starting to pick up on how talented he is.

The
Kimberly Steaks who were next are a band that I've been told that I
must have seen before. Yet I drew a complete blank on them.

There was
absolutely nothing jogging my memory at all.

That's
not to say I didn't enjoy them. In fact I did. I just don't ever
remember seeing them before and I doubt I have as you could file them
away as once seen never forgotten.

From the
first song I was immediately transported into the past and instead of
the gig taking place in Pivo Pivo in the present I could have been
standing in the basement of the 13thNote or Nice and Sleazy from
nights long past.

It's not
a style of music that is riding the crest of a wave any more, but who
cares.

If you
want a nostalgia trip as this was your thing then these guys will
deliver.

You also
wont be disappointed if you care not a jot for what is being pushed
as the current trend to follow and are just looking to be thoroughly
entertained.

Hell. I'm
giving them a big seal of approval.

All the
way from Carlisle 'Car Crash Radio' sound like they aren't going to
take any prisoners.

They're
the next evolutionary stage from what The Kimberley Steaks are doing.
They've still got the pop punk skeleton, but it's padded out with a
more modern take on the sound.

Specifically
impressive is the attitude of the front man who plays the set as if
he's performing to a stadium full of ecstatic fans.

It's that
sort of attitude that can sometimes separate the wheat from the
chaff.

By
wearing that self confidence like armour the band are far removed
from those who are playing in clubs and will never escape them.

There
motto could be 'treat the club like a stadium and one day it will
be'.

Apart
from the front man the band are all tight with the bass and drums
providing a solid frame work for some impressive guitar work to be
layered over.

I liked
them so much that I'm going to try and catch them playing again this
weekend before they head back home.

They're
another band whose names getting tucked away in the mental file
labelled 'one to keep an eye on'.

It's been
literally years since I last seen the Hostiles and sound wise it's a
whole new ball game.

Maybe
others who have seen them regularly would disagree as they have
participated in the gradual change, but for me it sounds like they
have dropped the pop overtones on their ska sound overnight and and
are now encroaching on Operations Ivy's more aggressive style.

Or in
short this is a muscular beast of a band, and all the more impressive
for it.

Watching
them it's very obvious that they are well deserving of securing the
support slot on the forthcoming Reel Big Fish tour.

In fact
they are so good that the tour shouldn't be viewed as a headliner
with a support, but instead a double headlining tour.

Everyone
should make sure they get there early and grab a prime spot to watch
the guys from.

I fully
expect them to pick up plenty of new fans on every leg of the tour
and by the end of the year this could be they can look back on it as
a one of the best they have had as a band.

There's
two more nights lined up to celebrate the release of their new ep.

One in
Prestwick and another in Edinburgh.

If ska
punk is your thing then do yourself a favour and make sure you make
it to one, or both.